RIP Mr. Franklin. I seen him fly the jet waco in Cape Girardeau Mo years ago. Was the best performance i have ever seen and a inspiration to me as a pilot.
RC- Inebriated yea he was great! Quite the entertainer. He’s from that area of the country too - either MO or KS, I can’t remember which one off the top of my head. He and Les Shockley are both from around that part of the states. Great guys
I was lucky enough to stand up on the top wing of Jim's Waco while he did his airshow at the 1981 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. I learned what it was like to be a hood ornament! Jim was a great pilot and never put me in danger. Thanks for the memory Jim!
Saw Jimmy Franklin perform countless times. So entertaining, so scary, so talented. I always knew he'd push his luck just a little too much and have an accident. He had many. He will be remembered by me as ONE OF THE BEST ALWAYS! RIP Jimmy.
I saw Jimmy and his Jet Waco at Sturgis in the early 2000's. There was an airshow in Rapid City, and he flew over with a couple of Pitt Special Acrobatic Planes. They would fly by just north of main street at about 1000 feet, and he would light up the jet and point it straight up to about 10,000 feet. The Pitt's would entertain the crowd while he made it back down, then do it again 5 or 6 more times. You could see him level off at the top, and the jet roar would quit a few seconds later. He had the full attention of about 250,000 bikers, even got the hard core drinkers off their bar stools to come outside and see what the commotion was. Best thing at the worlds largest biker rally was Jimmy and his Waco.
I don't know what keeps it from not falling apart, but I do know the show was REALLY entertaining so we spent the $ to have him. Jimmy was good friends with Les Shockley who built one of the first (if not the first) Peterbuilt three-engine jet dragsters and I guess he had a hand in the design. Jimmy was just brave (or crazy) enough to fly it. He was an amazing pilot, I am sorry to see him gone because he was one of the nice guys too.
It is amazing that the airframe can handle this! Also if you think about it the plane had to have a second fuel tank added somewhere for a completely different fuel! But since the airframe apparently holds up nicely to these crazy parameters it's actually a safer plane as it would be highly unlikely that you loose power in both engines being completely separate entities!
That plane was BEEFED up. Not sure there was much space at all in the airframe that didn't have an additional spar or reinforcement. Jimmy had this concept back in the 80's but almost everyone told him it couldn't be done...almost everyone...(enter Shockley)!
+Richard Herbst One of the most unique shows ever. Watching that WACO fly by and then hearing the jet kick in naturally screws with your brain - it defies logic. So cool! And Jimmy was one cool cat too. What a character. Thanks for your post!
Craig Pennington yea it was a great show. Definitely unique for sure, there was really nothing like it on the circuit at the time. I was thinking I had seen that someone else has one now, but maybe I’m mistaken. I’ve been out of the industry for 15 years and so much changes over that time. But Jimmy flying that thing made it even better.
+Craig Pennington It wasn't a stock WACO. Now try to image that Jimmy's son Kyle also did a wing walking routine on that plane. czcams.com/video/cnTf4wwhDrQ/video.html I remember when people started asking about a pilot who flew a Waco with a jet engine and couldn't believe it. Jimmy Franklin was a very unique airshow talent. Kyle had also flown it. Sadly Jimmy was lost in the Jet Waco in a mid-air in 2005. czcams.com/video/IDX9SvZul1M/video.html Kyle still continues the family air show tradition with his own show. He has a new plane that was designed by his father called "Dracula" and it is an even smaller and stronger Waco. There is a mount for a jet but Kyle is not flying with a jet at this time. czcams.com/video/0oqXOgaLpFg/video.html Another pilot has began flying with a different jet Waco in the spirit of Jimmy Franklin. czcams.com/video/X7K6ClsWvjo/video.html
Yes he was, and a true character as well. I always enjoyed being around him and his performance did a good job of bridging the entertainment gap between traditional aerobatics (which to be totally honest becomes boring to most non-aviation enthusiasts after about 20 minutes or so) AND exciting motorsports. The traditionalists loved his stick and rudder skills and the motorsports enthusiasts loved the "time machine" design. It was totally unique - he brought excitement back into traditional aerobatics through a unique innovation... with his top hat on! : )
Thanks DOn, this was sick...A 3,000pl thrust Learjet engine strapped onto a 1935 1500 lb plane with an amazing pilot at the stick A M A Z I N G What keeps that plane from disintegrating? Luv the airplane bow at the end.
No kidding. I think it's the single, most entertaining and outlandish aircraft ever built for an air show. Why they "thought" that would work, and how it "did" work is still amazing to me. I sure wish Jimmy was still around.
Oh man The Memories Nothing like the Crowd yelling.."OH...YAH.. !! Truly 1 of the Best!!! RIP Jimmy we ALL miss you .
Jimmy Franklin was the very best. RIP Jimmy you are missed.
Yea I loved Jimmy
RIP Mr. Franklin. I seen him fly the jet waco in Cape Girardeau Mo years ago. Was the best performance i have ever seen and a inspiration to me as a pilot.
RC- Inebriated yea he was great! Quite the entertainer. He’s from that area of the country too - either MO or KS, I can’t remember which one off the top of my head. He and Les Shockley are both from around that part of the states. Great guys
I was lucky enough to stand up on the top wing of Jim's Waco while he did his airshow at the 1981 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. I learned what it was like to be a hood ornament! Jim was a great pilot and never put me in danger. Thanks for the memory Jim!
That's a great experience. I always liked Jim a lot, he was quite the professional.
That's awesome! His mother was actually his first wing-walker way back in the day when he was getting started in Lovington, NM.
Saw Jimmy Franklin perform countless times. So entertaining, so scary, so talented. I always knew he'd push his luck just a little too much and have an accident. He had many. He will be remembered by me as ONE OF THE BEST ALWAYS! RIP Jimmy.
What a great guy too. Always had a smile on his face. It was definitely the most unique premier aerobatic act of its kind back then.
I saw Jimmy and his Jet Waco at Sturgis in the early 2000's. There was an airshow in Rapid City, and he flew over with a couple of Pitt Special Acrobatic Planes. They would fly by just north of main street at about 1000 feet, and he would light up the jet and point it straight up to about 10,000 feet. The Pitt's would entertain the crowd while he made it back down, then do it again 5 or 6 more times. You could see him level off at the top, and the jet roar would quit a few seconds later. He had the full attention of about 250,000 bikers, even got the hard core drinkers off their bar stools to come outside and see what the commotion was. Best thing at the worlds largest biker rally was Jimmy and his Waco.
thats awesome. thanks for sharing. I didnt know he did that at Sturgis. His demo was the best!
Awe sum !!
I saw Mr Franklin fly at the Reno Air Races and I’ve never forgotten. The flat inverted spins… (“Time to pull out of that one Jimmy!!!…)
That show was incredible. So unique for its time
That's Crazy! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! wish I could see it again
I don't know what keeps it from not falling apart, but I do know the show was REALLY entertaining so we spent the $ to have him. Jimmy was good friends with Les Shockley who built one of the first (if not the first) Peterbuilt three-engine jet dragsters and I guess he had a hand in the design. Jimmy was just brave (or crazy) enough to fly it. He was an amazing pilot, I am sorry to see him gone because he was one of the nice guys too.
It is amazing that the airframe can handle this! Also if you think about it the plane had to have a second fuel tank added somewhere for a completely different fuel! But since the airframe apparently holds up nicely to these crazy parameters it's actually a safer plane as it would be highly unlikely that you loose power in both engines being completely separate entities!
That plane was BEEFED up. Not sure there was much space at all in the airframe that didn't have an additional spar or reinforcement. Jimmy had this concept back in the 80's but almost everyone told him it couldn't be done...almost everyone...(enter Shockley)!
Saw him fly at a show in Joplin, never forget those vertical climbs.
+Richard Herbst One of the most unique shows ever. Watching that WACO fly by and then hearing the jet kick in naturally screws with your brain - it defies logic. So cool! And Jimmy was one cool cat too. What a character. Thanks for your post!
This is FREAKING WILD! How does that bi plane stay together? I can bet the g forces are up there. What a show indeed!
Craig Pennington yea it was a great show. Definitely unique for sure, there was really nothing like it on the circuit at the time. I was thinking I had seen that someone else has one now, but maybe I’m mistaken. I’ve been out of the industry for 15 years and so much changes over that time. But Jimmy flying that thing made it even better.
+Craig Pennington It wasn't a stock WACO. Now try to image that Jimmy's son Kyle also did a wing walking routine on that plane. czcams.com/video/cnTf4wwhDrQ/video.html I remember when people started asking about a pilot who flew a Waco with a jet engine and couldn't believe it. Jimmy Franklin was a very unique airshow talent. Kyle had also flown it. Sadly Jimmy was lost in the Jet Waco in a mid-air in 2005. czcams.com/video/IDX9SvZul1M/video.html Kyle still continues the family air show tradition with his own show. He has a new plane that was designed by his father called "Dracula" and it is an even smaller and stronger Waco. There is a mount for a jet but Kyle is not flying with a jet at this time. czcams.com/video/0oqXOgaLpFg/video.html Another pilot has began flying with a different jet Waco in the spirit of Jimmy Franklin. czcams.com/video/X7K6ClsWvjo/video.html
15 years ago I built a quarter scale rc plane, with turbine and smoke, of this plane. After a carb rebuild it's going back up soon.
He was one of the best.
Yes he was, and a true character as well. I always enjoyed being around him and his performance did a good job of bridging the entertainment gap between traditional aerobatics (which to be totally honest becomes boring to most non-aviation enthusiasts after about 20 minutes or so) AND exciting motorsports. The traditionalists loved his stick and rudder skills and the motorsports enthusiasts loved the "time machine" design. It was totally unique - he brought excitement back into traditional aerobatics through a unique innovation... with his top hat on! : )
I love biplanes
Thanks DOn, this was sick...A 3,000pl thrust Learjet engine strapped onto a 1935 1500 lb plane with an amazing pilot at the stick A M A Z I N G
What keeps that plane from disintegrating? Luv the airplane bow at the end.
Always wondered how he kept from burning his tail wheel off.
Kelly Reim must have been made of asbestos! : )
non too shabby
Yea, that was a blast to watch in person. Nothing like it.
im envious ,,,
sure wish he was still around
f**king epic! >:D
No kidding. I think it's the single, most entertaining and outlandish aircraft ever built for an air show. Why they "thought" that would work, and how it "did" work is still amazing to me. I sure wish Jimmy was still around.